Partnership aims to enable remote working and community development
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) today announced a partnership with Grow Remote, a social enterprise enabling people to work, live and participate locally by making remote work, via employment, visible and accessible to everyone.
The two organisations will collaborate on initiatives to empower people to work remotely and encourage sustainable community development. These shared objectives form the foundation of the collaboration, with a mission to support communities across the country. The announcement also follows the Government’s pledge to provide €75million for landmark regeneration projects in rural communities as part of its €1Billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund providing ambitious new policy for Rural Ireland.
Responsible for designing, building and operating Ireland’s new high-speed Fibre-to-the-Home network under the National Broadband Plan, NBI is creating futureproofed infrastructure spanning over 96% of Ireland’s land mass, connecting over 1.1 million people across 544,000 premises homes, businesses, farms and schools. Recognised as one of the largest and most ambitious projects of its kind globally, the National Broadband Plan will ensure every person in Ireland has access to high-speed connectivity, transforming opportunities for people living and working in the Intervention Area to embrace remote working.
David McCourt, Chairman of National Broadband Ireland, said: “Both NBI and Grow Remote believe that all sustainable community development is made by people. People with imagination and the determination to improve their futures and the future of the local community, businesses and organisations they are part of. Together, both NBI and Grow Remote can play a role in making that happen and we hope to encourage others to join us.”
Grow Remote believes that by making remote jobs accessible and visible to local communities, it will contribute to the transformation and revitalisation of towns and villages across Ireland. Access to high-speed broadband under the National Broadband Plan, will be a key factor in enabling people to work remotely in villages and towns in the Intervention Area.
Tracy Keogh, Grow Remote Co-Founder, said:“This partnership is reflective of the collaboration that’s happening across the public, private and voluntary sector. It’s one that is needed if we are to accurately identify challenges and build solutions that fulfil the potential of rural Ireland”.
A common goal of the partnership is to ensure that Ireland has a best-in-class remote working ecosystem, with a highly-skilled, remote-ready workforce. Remote working has the potential for wider social transformation, leading to improved diversity and inclusion by providing equal access to opportunities to everyone, regardless of where they live.
